Improved corpse-preserver



J. J. REICHE'RT. Corpse Preserver.

"Pater lted Sept. 29, 1868.

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. J PETERS, PHOTD-LITHUGRAFMER, WASHIN UNITED STATES PATENT (JET'IoE.

JOHN J. REIOHERTS, OF DELAWARE, OHIO.

IMPROVED CORPSE-PRESERVER.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 82,552, dated September 29, 1868.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN J. REIOHERTS, of Delaware, in the county of Delaware and State of Ohio, have invented a new and Improved Corpse-Preserver; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification.

This invention consists in so forming a case for the reception of dead bodies before burial that they may be preserved from decay for a reasonable length of time (a number of days) by lowering the temperature by the use of ice, and in providing for a circulation of air through the case, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

Figure 1 represents a sectional longitudinal view of the case, showing the perforated platform upon which the corpse is laid. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the case through the line as w of Fig. 1, showing the general construction and the manner in which I carry out my invention.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

The case is made in two parts, each part being provided with a receptacle for ice. The platform upon which the corpse is laid is supported by the lower part, which is marked A. B is the upper part. The joint where the two unite is seen at G, and the parts are kept in place by steady-pins, as seen in the drawing.

D is the perforated platform upon which the body is laid. E is the head-piece or support for the head of the corpse. F is the ice-box in the upper part, B, and G is the ice box connected with the lower part, A. Each ice-box has a water-pan beneath it, which pans are marked respectively H and I. Each water-pan is provided with a suitable pipe for conductin g the water therefrom.

J is the pipe for the pan H, and K the pipe forthe pan I. L is a false perforated bottom in the part B, through which the cold air descends into immediate contact with the corpse. The air which thus descends passes in around the ice-box J, through orifices not seen in the drawing, into the empty or vacuum spaces marked m. The foul air and gases will es= cape from the case through the tube a at or orifices near the head, as indicated by arrows. The false bottom L is provided with orifices for this purpose, which are not seen in the drawing.

0 represents an aperture through the outer covering of the case, for the escape of foul air.

The air which enters and surrounds the icebox F is immediately cooled, and descends by its own specific gravity, while the foul and lighter air and gases will ascend and escape, as before stated. The icebox G tends to lower the temperature within the case, and consequently to aid in the operation, but I do not deem its use indispensable in ordinary cases.

In the outer covering, and also in the false bottom L, above the head, are apertures which are covered with glass, 11 1), so that the face of the corpse may be seen without in any manner disturbing the case.

B represents a thermometer, which is placed in the space S, to indicate the temperature within the case.

By thus reducing the temperature within the case, and providing for the admission of fresh air and for the escape of foul air and gases, I am enabled to prevent decomposition taking place for almost any required length of time in hot weather.

The case may be made with double walls, with the space between filled with charcoal or any other good non-conducting substance, should that method be deemed advisable.

I do not confine myself to any particular form of case, nor to any particular kind of material of which to make them, nor to any particular number or position of apertures for the admission of pure air or escape of foul air.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- A corpse -preserver constructed and ar ranged substantially as shown and described-- that is to say, with the parts A and B, the icebox F, and either with or without the ice-box G, the air-spaces M, platform D, perforated false bottom L, with the double glass 19 11, the whole arranged and operating substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

J. J. REIGHERTS.

Witnesses:

F. M. J or, S. LATIMIER. 

